Do you feel like you carry way too many books in between classes? Read on to find out how you can carry less books from class to class, and how to move easier and faster. This is targeted at middle school students, but it may be beneficial for high school pupils as well.

Steps

1

Find out everything you need for each class. Bring only what you need for that day. Ask your teacher at the beginning of the day for that day, or at the end of the school day for the next day. It might be a good idea to bring a piece of paper, your student planner, or your assignment notebook along with you so that you can jot down the books to bring. By doing this, you are limiting the amount of books that were required for you to bring.

2

Only bring the books that you need for that class. Keep books that are for homework or other classes in your locker unless you have to attend that class immediately after the class before, and you are not allowed to go to your lockers in between classes. Just bring what you will need for that class period. Always bring a book for you to read in case you complete the assignment, this way you will not just be sitting there, many teachers assign punishments for that, so always bring some kind of reading material in your classes. This may require more room, but it can be a life-saver.

3

Use smaller binders. Or, you could use one extra large binder and get subject dividers to separate each class. You could also have two normal sized binders, one in the morning and one for the afternoon. Keep the morning one in your bookbag for all of your morning classes, and keep your afternoon in your locker until the end of the day, when you might need it most.

4

Carry less supplies. Don't carry a stapler and 50 pencils. Have a small, sturdy, fabric pencil case that holds all of your supplies. Supplies include; pencils, pens, small tape roll, small stapler, staples, highlighters, crayons, markers, etc., these things can easily fit into a small pencil case. Carry all of your supplies (pencil case with smaller supplies, notebooks, binder, folders, textbooks, workbooks) in your book bag. This will make sure you do not have to hold ANY supplies what-so-ever, and give you more arm-space.

5

Try to fit things in your binder. Things like folders, spiral notebooks, etc can help you when in your binder. This can lighten the load for you, because it will easily fit into your book bag, and you can purchase a pencil case that clips right into your binder, so then all you would need to remember is your packed up binder for each class!

6

Use your locker! Store books in your locker in the order of which you will need them, such as, if this was your schedule: Math, Science, P.E, Lunch, Social Studies, English; your English books would be on the bottom of the pile, and your math books would be on the top. This will help you get the books easier each day. Make a locker schedule, the same way you would make a homework schedule. You should only really need to access your locker 4 times each day; once in the very beginning of the day (for your morning classes), once right before lunch (for your lunch bag/box and to drop off the morning books), once right after lunch (to drop of your lunch bag/box and to get your afternoon books), and once right before you leave (to get your homework books, pick up your things to get home, and to drop off the afternoon's books that you don't need for that evening's work).

7

Learn how to become organized. This may seem silly, but many students have trouble in school just because they are not organized. It may help if you read other wikihow articles on the subject. Many teachers appreciate organized students, and to become organized is very simple. Clean out your desk, locker, book bag, and binder. Make sure all trash is thrown away, and all old papers are put in your folder to bring home. Here are a few wikihow articles that may help you become organized:

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Tips

Afternoon/Morning binders can be helpful

It's good to buy school supplies that are all-in-one or are designed for multiple subjects. Such as: Don't purchase big, heavy binders for each class. Only purchase one large binder, two medium binders, or multiple small binders for every class. Many students struggle with binders as their heaviest supplies.

If you find yourself carrying lots of small things chapter books/pencils/pens etc., consider buying a fabric binder that carries your books too. This is easier to carry, and it also fits right inside your book bag.

If your teachers say to keep your things in a certain order, listen to them. Not only are they telling you what you have to do, but they are also explaining important ways that can help you become more organized.

Organize a book exchange program with buddies. If you all need the same books, you can set up a system where you can lighten the load for all of you. Such as: you could have four buddies working together, and; one could have textbooks, one could have workbooks, one could have notebooks, and one could have binders. You can rotate who takes what books each week/day/month.

Warnings

Avoid carrying many small books at once.

Never carry more than you can handle. If this is the case carry part of your books for a few classes and ask to get the books from your locker when you need them. If they won't explain to them you had too much to carry and decided to wait. If you are normally organized and they know that they should understand.